Of the few publications running Uncharted 3 previews just now, it’s Future’s Edge magazine that hits the spot so resoundingly – the ten page special in issue 223 not only graces the cover and goes in-depth with Naughty Dog’s new game, but it also includes a two page interview on gaming exposition, with some fascinating insights into crafting the perfect story.
Obviously we want everyone to go out and buy the magazine, but it’s probably worth picking out a few highlights as a teaser, and there’s some cracking slices of new information hidden in the extensive text. For starters, Naughty Dog co-president Christophe Balestra reveals that the second game, Uncharted 2, didn’t even fit into memory three weeks before the game was shipped. “The day we have no solution for that,” he says, “that’s going to be a real problem.”
Uncharted 3 is set around Drake searching for an object in Ubar, an Arabian city known as the Iram of the Pillars, and the trial set by Francis Drake in the first game continues here, although players can expect plenty of plot based on explorer TE Lawrence (yes, he of Arabia). The game will, according to the article, push Drake to the “limits of his endurance” and “threatens to conjure all of his deepest fears.”
Indeed, Naughty Dog’s Amy Hennig suggests the enemy this time is something a little different. “A kind [Drake] hasn’t seen before,” she says, “a more insidious… ancient and sinister order” and it’s one that some suggest might be involved with the somewhat mysterious death of Lawrence himself.
Sand, as you’ll have seen from the various screenshots, will feature heavily, replacing the snow from the last game and the jungle from the first. Naughty Dog promise drifts, sandstorms, mirages and heat hazes, sand, then, “in all its forms.” Not that the yellow stuff will be the only location in the game: “it’s hard to give even a rough estimate,” says Even Wells, promising “several environments,” some of which “aren’t even remotely sandy.”
Game changes? Weapons are now automatically picked up, combat is now much more up close and personal and the enemy AI much improved, including what looks like proper squad dynamics – the magazine describes Drake being grabbed from behind and fighting off an assailant in front. Likewise, animation has been ramped up considerably, with 32 cameras in the motion capture studio last used by the Beowulf movie.
In terms of performance, Uncharted 3 uses all six of the PS3’s free SPUs but at a far more advanced and efficient rate. Uncharted 2 used all six too (Uncharted just used two) but the difference is akin to “street-car” and “Formula 1” levels of performance. “We’re at full speed,” says Balestra of the game’s single player, although the team clearly don’t yet want to talk about multiplayer apart from to say that it’s a “massive component” compared to the last.
Wells does admit that we might see the return of Drake’s love interest, though. “Some of the characters from the past games will return,” he says, but confirms that the most important relationship will be between Drake and Sully.
We can’t wait to get our hands on the game ourselves, even the chateau level we’ve already seen looks absolutely stunning, as well we’d expect. We’ve barely scratched the surface of the article though, which is a wonderful read (as is the rest of the magazine, as normal) and covers plenty more aspects to the game (and the past two) so anyone looking to learn more about Uncharted 3 would do well to grab a copy. Edge’s online site is here.
project84music
Personally, I don’t think its right to comment on the automatic weapon pick-up system in anything other than a neutral manner – simply because we haven’t yet seen how its been implemented. Whilst I can understand how some people may be a little apprehensive, as a comment above suggests ‘why fix something that isn’t broken?’ – and indeed, I would agree if for instance the system meant that every time you walk over a different weapon you switch to it, which would be truly terrible. However, having watched the gameplay footage that was shown on the Jimmy Fallon show, there is a moment where the player switches weapon and clearly shows the usual two weapons only system – so I can’t imagine this automatic weapon pick-up being a massive change to the system, perhaps all they really mean is that ammo is picked up automatically, which I wouldn’t have any complaints about.
And as people have suggested, they may make the feature optional – if it truly is a massive change to the system, it probably makes it much more likely to be an optional setting as they won’t want to alienate current fans of the series.
All-in-all, it’s a little premature to be coming out with such negative comments about a system we haven’t yet experienced.
icuyesido
I wonder where it will come in TSA’s countdown… I predict 4th, don’t know why, just do.
project84music
If it does at all – the announcement was made after the list was compiled, and I don’t really remember there being a reason to expect its release next year.
I tend to have the feeling that it will be absent from the list.
Rocket_345
I am also thinking this. The list was compiled in October way before the announcement
DRCD1
We already knew it was coming back in January. Nolan North leaked a thing or two…
kalel1981
yeah but there are other games in the list that haven’t been announced – Hitman 5 anyone? and given Uncharteds past releases it was pretty much a given that the new game would be out in 2011 – UDF 2007, U2 2009
Rocket_345
Going back on what i said Mirros Edge 2, a game that hadn’t been announced and i personally wasn’t aware that a sequel was on the cards, made the top 20.
ElGuason
cool beans but i dunno about picking up weapons automatially what if i grab something i don’t want…..
Dr_mohannad
The most important relation is between sully and drake, that could he the reason why drake is wearing a scarf ;)
citizeninsane45
“threatens to conjure all of his deepest fears.”
Wasn’t that clowns? Are there many of them around the desert? ;¬)
Foxhound_Solid
Wow. Just wow. Cannot wait for this game. Awesome stuff!
Grey_Ghost13
Going to be amazing, not a fan of sand, but reading about the effects they are goint to implement, heat haze, mirages etc.. I can’t wait.
3shirts
A fan of sand? – For some reason I thought of a teenage girl with posters of sand on all her walls
monkeyspoon
If Drake is going to confront his fears does that mean clowns are in the game.
3shirts
This sounds brilliant, the changes are sensible and making the AI more intelligent is pretty scary. On Crushing, they were already pretty damn good!
beeje13
Almost makes me tremble, even thought i didn’t really like UC2…
Depends what else is out at the time, if inFamous 2 comes out within 2 months of this, i’m afraid Cole comes before Drake (sorry to the gazillion UC fans on TSA!)